Self-sealing receptacle for separating dust from an air stream



y 1952 G. E. LOFGREN 2,596,808

SELF-SEALING RECEPTACLE FOR SEPARATING DUST FROM AN AIR STREAM Filed April 6, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. GUSTAF EINAR LOFGREN f0. ATTOR EY.

May 13, 1952 e. E. LOFGREN 2,596,808

SELF-SEALING RECEPTACLE FOR SEPARATING v DUST FROM AN AIR STREAM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 6, 1949 INVENTOR. GUSTAF EINAR LOFGREN BY; 2 3 Z ATTORNEY.

May 13, 1952 G. E. LOFGREN 2,596,808

SELF-SEALING RECEPTACLE FOR SEPARATING DUST FROM AN AIR- STREAM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 6, 1949 MQ ATTORNZ;

Patented May 13, 1952 SELF-SEALING RECEPTACLE FOR SEPARAT- ING DUST FROM AN AIR STREAM Riverside, Conn., assignor Gustaf Einar Lofgren,

to Electrolux Corporation,

Old Greenwich,

Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application April, 6, 1949, Serial No. 85,797

This invention relates to a self-sealing cntainer, and more particularly to a dustcollecting device adapted for use in a vacuum cleaner.

Heretofore a number of different devices have been proposed for separating entrained particles from the suction current of cleaning air used in the operation of the conventional type of vacuum cleaner. Although a cloth bag has been almost universally used in the past, more recently a modified disposable paper receptacle pervious to air but impervious to dust, lint, hair, threads and the like has met with considerable public accept ance. However, many difliculties have accompanied'the adoption of the more obvious modifications of this common paper bag type of dust receptacle. Such problems as for example excessive cost, undue complexity of structure, difficulty of removal of contaminated bags or containers filled with dirt, etc., have arisen.

In view of this ineffective adaptation of dust containers as heretofore devised to solve this particular problem, it is an object of this invention to provide a low cost disposable paper container which makes possible the most eflicient collection, and rapid and easy disposal of dust and dirt collected in the conventional types of so-called vacuum or suction cleaning machines.

In addition to such an economical and convenient solution for the conventional cleaning problem, a still further object hereof is to-provide a highly flexible selectively pervious dust container which is readily foldable or collapsible to occupy the least possible space and thus facilitate storage in an easily accessible place, on the cleaner if necessary, and to provide such a container as is readily extensible into fully opened condition in and of itself and solely by initiating vacuum cleaner operation after being once mounted and sealed in position within the cleaner.

Another object is to provide such a self-opening and self -sea1ing dust container for use in the conventional type of vacuum cleaner.

Still other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent, and similar and analogous objects will suggest themselves and be readily comprehended by those versed in the related art, upon further examining the examples given in the following specification, particularly when considered in conjunction with the appended drawings forming a part of this disclosure and in which:

Figure l is a side view, partly in section and with another part of the outer casing broken away, showing a dust collecting container in ac- Claims. (01. 183-51) 2 cordance with this invention in position in a tank type vacuum cleaner;

s Figure 2 is a side view of the dust collecting container shown in Fig. 1, in a fully extended condition;

Figure 3 is a side view of the same dust collecting container shown in Fig. 2, but in a fully collapsed and folded condition suitable for storage;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the exterior of a fully extended container with part of the pervious material forming the dust storage portion of the container torn away in order to show more clearly the external appearance of one modification embodying structure making possible the novel self -opening and self-sealing principles disclosed and described herein;

Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to that shown in Fig. 4, but showing the dust conveying nozzle extending through the pressure distended and expandedly opened resilient sealing element incorporated in this embodiment of the invention and further showing the broken resilient sealing strip in upwardly and backwardly diverted position so that dirt-laden air can be introduced directly into the interior of the container;

' various elements of the nozzle and sealing'memher after insertion of the nozzle into the bag interior; and

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line ,9-9 of Fig.6.

Referring now more particularly to the figures and especially to Fig. 1, a conventional tank type of vacuum cleaner I0 is shown fitted with a dust collecting bag I l embodying structure in accordance with this invention, the dustbag being placed in operative position within the cleaner casing l2. The bag or container II is held in place by the insertion of the bag and the placement of the end plate member or disc 20 of dust bag H onto a seat l3 formed in flange M which in turn is a part of cleaner casing l2. A removable cover l5 keeps the left-hand end of the casing l2 closed and seals the dust bag H within body chamber H in dust collecting position within seat I3. Dust inlet passage [6, to the outer end of which a flexible dust collecting hose is connectable, has an inner end l8 forming a nozzle which extends some distance into the interior of dust bag Iiv through an opening or centrally located aperture 2|, Fig. 4, out in end plate 28. A motor fan unit is in the opposite end of the body chamber completes the vacuum cleaner assembly.

Plate member 29 is preferably formed of relatively stiff material to which the flexible side walls 22 of dust bag H are secured. It is firmly clamped within seat it by cover or closure member i when the latter is locked in place. Dustladen air is then conveyed directly into the interior of bag I i the air passing through the porous walls 22 of the container or dust bag ll, While the entrained dirt is filtered out and remains entrapped Within the bag ,I i.

The walls of the container are preferably flexible and foldable in the conventional manner for convenient packaging and storage, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The bottom (left end in Fig. 2) of the bag is adhesively or otherwise secured to the inner side of end plate 20 and has a hole, opening or aperture 25, Fig. 4, coextensive with or slightly large than that cut in end plate 20, for the facile insertion therethrough of nozzle 18. The open end or" bag 5 i opposite the end secured to disc 25, is closed in any suitable manner. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 this closure is efiected by folding over, gluing or sewing the four side walls together across this open end when the container is in collapsed condition as shown at 26.

As is well known, a number of different devices have been heretofore suggested for sealing bags, both self-sealing devices and others, via, folded paper flaps, distensible rubber sheets, interleaved iris type elements, etc., among various others. However, such devices have been both complex and expensive. Frequently they have proved ineffective in practice, many operated only under small pressure leaks, while still others failed to retain small dust particles.

The closure element shown in detail in Figs. 4 to 9 and more particularly the subject-matter of this invention is a highly effective and eificient self-opening and self-closing sealing device. It includes a distensible member 3t, Fig. 4, of substantially square configuration in the center of which is a hole or aperture 3| punched therethrough. This square shaped distensible unit is adhesively or otherwise secured at its edges to the outer face of disc 2%, in partial sealing orientation with respect to opening 2 I, see Figs. 4 and '7, aperture 3i being approximately centered with respect thereto. A paper strip 32, Fig. 5, having a weakened or partially sectioned area 35 and a width somewhat greater than the diameter of aperture Si, is adhesively secured to the outer disc surface in the region of thetwo end portions of strip 32 and extends directly over the aperture 5 5.

By the term distensible as used with reference to member 3% is meantany rubber-like material, one that is stretchable and returnable upon release substantially to its former size as contrasted to a foldable material which folds and/ or unfolds.

In operation, responsive to the pressure exerted by the insertion of a filling tube it, Figs. 5 and S, strip 32 breaks at 35, then the aperture 3| of the elastic sealing member 36 expands and opens out to a wider and wider diameter until it finally allows the end of the tube E8 to protrude therethrough and to fit snugly thereon. The sealing flap 32 is simultaneously pushed upwards as in Fig. 5 and away from its sealing engagement with When the tube I8 is withdrawn, the aperture- 3! in the elastic sealing member 30 returns to its former small diameter, Fig. 6, and the flap 32 comes down and its free end is trapped or securely held within the contracted opening 3! to seal the latter (see Fig. 6), the entrapped dust behind the flap 32 pressing this flap into a more secure and firm sealing position.

Although a detailed description has been given with particular reference to a self-sealing bag device and more especially one where a distensible memberis used together with an auxiliary closure flap, it is to be understood that the invention may be variously otherwise embodied and that its scope is to be determined solely by the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A seal for a dust container comprising a bag having a still plate member, an opening in the plate member, a stretchable and elastic material extending across the opening, an aperture in the elastic material of normally less diameter than said opening, and a. flexible strip member secured at at least one end to the outer side of said plate member and extending over the outer side of said aperture and insertable therethrough to provide a closure therefor.

2. A sealfor a dust container comprising a bag having a stiff plate member, an opening in the plate member, a stretchable and elastic material extending across the opening, an aperture in the elastic material of normally less diameter than said opening, and a flexible strip member secured at both ends to said plate member and extending over said aperture, and having a weakened section adjacent one end.

3. A seal for a dust container comprising a bag having a stiff plate member, an opening in the plate member, a. stretchable and elastic material extending across theopening, an aperture in the elastic material of normally less diameter thanvthe opening, said aperture being distensible and returnable to its original size and a flexible strip member secured at both ends to said plate member and extending over said aperture, said strip being at least as wide as the normal diameter of the aperture, and having a weakened section adjacent one end thereof.

4. A seal for a dust container comprising a bag having walls with an opening in one of said walls, a stretchable and elastic material extending across the opening, the elastic material having an aperture of normally less diameter than said opening, with the material about said aperture being distensible and returnable to its original size and a flexible member secured at at least one end to the outer side of said one wall and extending over the outer side of said aperture and insertable therethrough to provide a closure therefor, said member being of less width than said opening and at least as wide as the normal diameter of said aperture, whereby said member substantially seals said aperture when inserted through the latter. r

5. Aseal for a dust container comprising a bag having a plate member, an opening in the plate member, a stretchable and elastic material extending across the opening, an aperture in the elastic material, and a flexible strip member extending over the-aperture, attached at-its-cnds to the plate member and having a weakenedsection adjacent one end thereof, the insertion of a dust conveying member into the aperture being efiective to stretch said material and enlarge said aperture and'to break the strip at its weakened section to free one end of the strip and insert the free end into the aperture, the return of the enlarged aperture to its original size upon withdrawal of the dust conveying member being effective to hold the free end of the strip therein and seal the aperture. I

6. A disposable dust bag for separating and collecting dust from the air stream of a vacuum cleaner having an inlet tube, said bag having a body of relatively porous pliable material and having a relatively stifi wall portion formed with an opening for the reception of said inlet tube, a thin sheet of stretchable and elastic material secured to said wall portion and extending over said opening, said sheet being formed with an aperture registering with said opening and normally of substantially less area than the crosssectional area of said inlet tube, and a flexible strip member secured to said wall portion and extending across the outer side of said aperture, the insertion of said inlet tube into said opening serving to stretch said sheet to enlarge the area of said aperture suificiently to receive the tube therethrough and serving to insert said strip member through said aperture, the elasticity of said sheet causing said aperture to return to its normal small area upon the withdrawal of said tube and to retain said strip member extending therethrough.

7. A disposable dust bag for separating and collecting dust from the air stream of a vacuum cleaner having an inlet tube, said bag havin a body of relatively porous pliable material and having a relatively stiff wall portion formed with an opening for the reception of said inlet tube, a thin sheet of stretchable and elastic material secured to said wall portion and extending over said opening, said sheet being formed with an aperture registering with said opening and normally of substantially less area than the crosssectional area of said inlet tube, and a flexible strip member extending across said aperture, secured at its ends to the outer side of said plate member and having a weakened section adjacent to one of said ends, the insertion of said inlet tube into said opening serving to stretch said sheet to enlarge the area of said aperture sufliciently to receive the tube therethrough and serving to sever the strip at its weakened section and to insert the severed strip through said aperture, the elasticity of said sheet causing said aperture to return to its normal small area upon the withdrawal of said tube and to retain said strip member extending therethrough.

8. A disposable dust bag for separating and collecting dust from the air stream flowing through the inlet tube of a vacuum cleaner, said bag comprising a body of relatively porous pliable material and an end portion, said end portion including a relatively stiif member having an opening of a size to receive the inlet tube and also including a thin sheet of stretchable and elastic material secured to said stiif member over said opening and having an aperture in registration with said opening and of a size substantially less than that of the cross-sectional area of said inlet tube, whereby a substantial amount of said material intervenes the peripheries of said aperture and said opening, said sheet of material being adapted to be stretched upon the insertion of the inlet tube through said opening and through said aperture and to return to the position ob- ,6, structing said opening when said inlet tube is withdrawn from said aperture and opening, the stretching of said sheet resulting in the substantial enlargement of said apertureto snugly receive said tube, said sheet of stretchable and elastic material having the aperture, due to the elasticity of the sheet, contracting upon withdrawal of the tube so that the aperture returns to its normal small size, and a flexible strip secured to said end portion and extending across said aperture to provide a substantial closure therefor said strip being narrower than and substantially centered across said opening.

9. A disposable dust bag for separating and collectin dust from the air stream flowing through the inlet tube of a'vacuum cleaner, said bag comprising a body of relatively porous pliable material and an end portion, said end portion including a relatively stiff member having an opening of a size to receive the inlet tube and also including a thin sheet of stretchable and elastic material secured to said stifl" member over said opening and having an aperture in registration with said opening and of a size substantially less than that of the cross-sectional area of said inlet tube, whereby a substantial amount of said material intervenes the peripheries of said aperture and said opening, said sheet of material being adapted to be stretched upon the insertion of the inlet tube through said opening and through said aperture and to return to the position obstructing said opening when said inlet tube is withdrawn from said aperture and opening, the stretching of said sheet resulting in the substantial enlargement of said aperture to snugly receive said tube, said sheet of stretchable and elastic material having the aperture, due to the elasticity of the sheet, contracting upon withdrawal of the tube so that the aperture returns to its normal small size, and a flexible strip secured to said end portion outwardly of said sheet and extending over said aperture on the'side of the sheet away from said bag body to provide a substantial closure therefor.

10. A disposable dust bag for separating and collecting dust from the air stream flowing through the inlet tube of a vacuum cleaner, said ba comprising a body of relatively porous pliable material and an end portion, said end portion including a relatively stifl member having an opening of a size to receive the inlet tube and also including a thin sheet of stretchable and elastic material secured to said stifi member over said opening and having an aperture in registration with said opening and of a size substantially less than that of the cross-sectional area of said inlet tube, whereby a substantial amount of said material intervenes the peripheries of said aperture and said opening, said sheet of material being adapted to be stretched upon the insertion of the inlet tube through said opening and through said aperture and to return to the position obstructing said opening when said inlet tube is withdrawn from said aperture and opening, the stretchin of said sheet resulting in the substantial enlargement of said aperture to snugly receive said tube, said sheet of stretchable and elastic material having the aperture, due to the elasticity of the sheet, contracting upon withdrawal of the tube so that the aperture returns to its normal small size, and a flexible strip having its ends'secured to said end portion at opposite sides of said opening and extending across said aperture to provide a substantial clo- 7 sure therefor, said strip being formed with a Number weakened portion adjacent to one of its ends. 1,644,096 GUSTAF EINAR. LOFGREN. 1,819,421 2,034,217 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,102,035 The following references are of record in the 9 4 file of this patent: 215283-32 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 0 Number 931,887 Reaney et a1 Aug. 24, 1909 5,274 1,266,482 Kamrass May 14, 1918 Name Date Voit Y Oct. 4, 1927 Kendall Aug. 18, 1931 Verwys Mar. 17, 1936 Rose Dec. 14, 1937 Vellinga Oct. 6, 1942 Bergquist Oct. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia June 9, 1932 

